The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Blazers Take On Memphis In Critical C-USA Matchup
11/1/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 1, 2005
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ----- UAB and Memphis will battle Tuesday in a critical Conference USA football game as both teams continue their quests to keep their 2005 bowl hopes alive.
Both the Blazers and Tigers enter Tuesday's nationally-televised contest (6:30 p.m. CT, ESPN2) looking for a key league win, especially UAB which has dropped three consecutive close decisions. After getting off to a 3-1 start this season, the Blazers (3-4, 1-3) have lost one-point games to SMU and Marshall before falling at home to Southern Mississippi, 37-28, at Legion Field 11 days ago.
Memphis comes into the game with a 4-3 record overall, 3-2 mark in C-USA play.
Recent history is on the side of the Blazers as UAB has won the past five meetings between the schools, including a 35-28 victory last fall in Birmingham.
The conference's top two marquee players will be in action at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Tuesday as Memphis RB DeAngelo Williams and UAB QB Darrell Hackney face off against each other for the final time in their collegiate careers. Williams is leading the nation in rushing with an average of 187 yards per game. He also has scored 12 rushing TDs.
Meanwhile, Hackney has been among the top signal-callers in the country in 2005. He comes into Tuesday's game averaging 324 yards of total offense, seventh-best nationally. The UAB senior from Atlanta leads Conference USA quarterbacks in passing yards, total offense and passing efficiency.
Following Tuesday's game at Memphis, UAB returns to Birmingham to prepare for its final home game of the season as the Blazers' next action is a Nov. 12 date at Legion Field vs. UCF.
